Susan Korol Pey

Susan Korol Pey Susan Korol Pey, the northern California wine and restaurant innovator who created several new wine brands and elevated the fine wine dining scene across the western United States, died suddenly and unexpectedly on March 1, 2016. She was 52. Susan pioneered the renaissance of winegrowing in west Marin County in 1999 with her Pey-Marin Pinot Noir. She was the first to plant Riesling in this cool climate region and today more than 20 wineries produce wine in the area. In 2000, Susan was recruited by restaurateur and visionary Larry Mindel to oversee the beverage program at the 22-unit Il Fornaio restaurant group. She has been the driving force in its ground-breaking program ever since, garnering many awards, including multiple Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. In this role Susan actively promoted the diverse, hand-made wines of Napa, Sonoma, and obscure regions of Italy. Asked to speak frequently at hospitality conferences, Susan always pioneered the hand-made, the artisanal, and the unique. A true gourmand, Susan will be remembered not only as a visionary winemaker and hospitality executive, but as a superb chef, with her culinary leanings toward the lighter side of Asian and Italian cuisine. Her many friends knew that when it was dinner at Sue's, it would be a remarkably authentic, delicious and raucous experience. Sue's wine industry friends fondly remember her for her remarkably deft palate and a razor-sharp memory of the wines she had evaluated. Known for her boundless energy, Susan will be remembered most for her loving and caring demeanor and unbelievable generosity. Although she achieved success in her career and many other areas, she always preferred spending time with her daughters and husband her number one love and priority. Determined to stop the scourge of breast cancer, she was a tireless advocate for the Breast Cancer Fund and one of its leading individual fundraisers. Susan was also fiercely passionate about women's reproductive rights and actively supported the National Association for Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL). Susan is survived her by soul mate, husband and best friend of 33 years, Jonathan Pey, daughters (and best friends) Lauren, Alexandra and Cameron, her parents Harold & Iris Korol of Palo Alto, three siblings, several in-laws and nieces and nephews. Susan Pey lived life every moment richly and fully - and expects us all to do the same. The family requests donations in memory of Susan Pey be made to the Breast Cancer Fund at www.breastcancer fund.org/donatenow - or mail to: Breast Cancer Fund at 1388 Sutter Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94109 indicating that it is in memory of Susan Pey.